Shortwave Radiation Budgets at Surface and in the Atmosphere Derived from 5 Years of ERBE Measurements

This data set consists of monthly averaged results of shortwave Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) and Atmospheric Radiation Budget (ARB), i.e. the shortwave radiative fluxes absorbed at the surface and in the atmosphere. They are derived from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) data set S-4 and the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analysis archive using the algorithm proposed by Li et al (1993). There are three input parameters: reflected flux or albedo on the top of the atmosphere, vertically integrated water vapor content and the solar zenith angle. S-4 data provides monthly-mean reflected fluxes and albedo on the top of the atmosphere at 2.5 X 2.5 degrees of latitude/longitude. Precipitable water is obtained from ECMWF data by vertical integration of humidity analyses from the bottom to the top of the atmosphere. Solar zenith angle is calculated according to latitude and time. For more information, see: "http://ingrid.ldeo.columbia.edu/SOURCES/.ERBE/.dataset_documentation.html"